Tag: Cafe racer

The Royal Enfield Twins have finally landed in Australia and today I got to spend the afternoon on both Continental GT 650 Cafe Racer and the Interceptor 650 from Royal Enfield. James from Penrith Motorcycle center popped these 2 bikes in the van and drove them to the Northern Beaches for me to test.

The new Honda CB1000R will hit dealers this month and will be available for about $16,499.

The 2018 CB1000R is a motorcycle that looks, feels and performs very differently from what’s come before and melds exhilarating function to a form that offers a radically fresh, visually stunning two-wheeled aesthetic.

Pinned against the Yamaha MT-01, it seems to be based on a Modern take of a Cafe Racer with the performance of a Street Fighter Naked bike.

Only six exterior parts are constructed from plastic, the largest being the svelte front mudguard. By contrast, what really makes its presence felt is the use of premium metal finishes; parts such as the burnished-aluminium radiator shroud and airbox cover; machined engine cases, cylinder head, and sprocket hub and flangeless steel fuel tank.

The result is a machine with a unique identity, a fusion of Sport Naked and bare-boned Café Racer inspirations.

2018 Honda CB1000R

The 2018 CB1000R elegantly combines more with less. It gives riders a huge amount of usable engine power with the control of a cutting edge Supersports machine with innovative, minimalist styling.

Its 998cc DOHC four-cylinder engine has been tuned to deliver its torque with strong character, offering more peak power at just over 10,000rpm and more torque right through the mid-range, where it’s most useful – and most fun.
The CB1000R has Throttle By Wire (TBW) with 3 pre-set riding modes plus a ‘User’ setting. Power (P), Engine Brake (EB) and Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) work together across the pre-sets to offer optimum benefit to the rider dependent on the conditions. The exhaust transmits a raw-edged howl as revs rise.

The 2018 CB1000R is 12kg lighter than the outgoing design, making for a 20% improvement in power to weight ratio. It’s also smaller, yet has a more relaxed riding position.

All lighting is LED and the thin, round headlight employs a horseshoe-shaped light ring, as well as a distinctive two-bar light signature. The rear light is also a semicircular light bar that fully lights up when the brakes are applied. The T-shaped instrument panel integrates into the top triple clamp, minimizing bulk, and the ignition switch is positioned at the front of the fuel tank.

Project Leader for developing the 18YM CB1000R Mr S. Uchida, said; “At Honda, our intention is always to look to the future and to be ready to lead. Hence, as the Naked sector’s requirements mature, we knew that we had to go much further than giving the new CB1000R a boost in real world performance. Customer expectation and interests are about much more than just ‘how fast?’

“We wanted to build in not only exhilaration and emotion to each experience of the CB1000R, but also real pleasure in owning, and showing off, such an individual machine. So we travelled in a new direction and are very proud of the result – both when out on the road and when admiring it in the garage!” Mr Uchida finished.

For more information on this exciting new model head into your Honda dealer today, ring 1 300 1 HONDA or go to www.hondamotorcycles.com.au

I’ve been a motorcycle lover since I could walk. My father always spoke about his riding days on BSA’s, Harley’s and Triumph’s, and these styles have always been the ones I loved the most too.

Today I popped into Royal Enfield Sydney to have a look at their brand new 650cc Twins……and they are spectacular!!!

Watch Video here >>>

There is a Continental GT, based on the British Royal Enfield Café Racer style, that really took my eye. The seating position was sporty but not to the extent that and old bloke like me would get sore and cramped.

Continental GT 650 Twin

The second twin was the Interceptor. This had a more classic stance and a slightly higher seating position that could also be easily modified into a Scrambler style if so desired.

Classic styled Interceptor 650 Twin

Royal Enfield Interceptor

Both Twins are running the same engines and chassis, powered by at 650cc air and oil cooled Twin engine. Royal Enfield did plenty of research to finally land with a 270 Degree Firing Angle to create the best efficiency, torque, and also finding the most pleasing sound.

Royal Enfield’s Single Cylinder models are known and love for that “Big Single” thump, and wanted to develop a nice rumble with the Twins.

These 2 were on display only with the demo models arriving later in the year for test riding.

If you’d like to go in the draw to be the first person to test ride these beautiful bikes, get on down to Royal Enfield Sydney at 336 Parramatta Rd, Burwood NSW 2134 before 17th February 2018, get your photo taken on the bike and share on socials with the Hashtag #RETwinsSydney

Thanks to Royal Enfield Sydney for having me today, and I look forward to test riding and reviewing any of their bikes soon.

A few years ago I was searching for more information on customizing motorcycles and trying to find a support group to bounce ideas off regarding repairs and builds. I stumbled across a group of riders in Sydney called Sydney Cafe Racers (SCR).

These men and women build, modify and ride classic styled bikes. Bobbers, cafe racers, trackers and choppers. Sydney Cafe Racers SCR, created by Mark Hawwa, have grown quite substantially over the year’s, and have done some phenomenal things for the custom motorcycle crowd, and more importantly for charity worldwide.

One of the major events that Mark Hawwa and his team have achieved is an annual Distinguished Gentlemans Ride DGR. DGR started local but quickly spread across the planet where many cities worldwide run DGR on the same day each year, showcasing some of the best classic, classic styled, or custom motorcycles you’ll ever see. Top this off with all riders required to dress “dapper” it’s a sight to see. Not only is this an amazing event, but it also raises a huge amount money and awareness for research to prevent prostrate cancer and more recently Movember.

Mark Hawwas other great achievement with Sydney Cafe Racers SCR an event called Throttle Roll, where they hold a street party with their amazing motorcycles on display, great food truck’s, some booze bars and some kicking bands.

This year Throtle Roll was held in Marrickville on Easter Saturday. The crowds were strong, the bikes were legendary and food cooking left us salivating to eat as much as humanly possible.

This network that Mark Hawwa and the team at SCR has built was the exact reason I wanted to start Sydney Coupes and Roadsters, to grow a group of like-minded, passionate car enthusiasts, that want to get together, share stories and advice and go for social drive togethers.